This is the first article in my 3-part series, Greening Your Home, where I’ll share practical ways to make your home more energy-efficient — while also saving you money in the long run. Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Small steps can make a big impact, and one of the best first steps is an energy audit.
What’s an Energy Audit?
Think of an energy audit as a check-up for your home. A professional technician inspects your entire house to see where energy (and money) is slipping away. They’ll test for leaks, check insulation, and sometimes even provide a thermal image that shows exactly where heat is escaping in the winter or sneaking in during the summer.
Why It’s Worth It
At first, a home energy audit might sound like an extra expense, but it can actually save you money — often right away. By identifying problem areas, you’ll know exactly where to invest in improvements instead of guessing (and overspending). Plus, energy audits can catch hidden hazards, like small gas leaks, before they become serious issues.
Signs You Might Need an Energy Audit
If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, it might be time:
- Why is one particular bedroom always too hot or too cold compared to the rest of the house?
- Are new windows really worth the investment?
- How can I find more practical ways to make my home greener and more efficient?
The Extra Bonus
Many local utility companies offer rebates on energy audits and even on the improvements that come after. That means you could get money back while also lowering your monthly bills. It’s a win-win for your wallet and the environment.
Takeaway
If you want to lower your bills, keep your home more comfortable year-round, and go a little greener, scheduling an energy audit is a smart first move. It’s the kind of project that pays off in more ways than one.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series where I’ll cover easy energy-saving upgrades that make a big impact without breaking the bank.re is why it’s a good way to solve such energy issues in your home.
What is an Energy Audit?
Getting an energy audit or energy assessment of your home is the first step to see what’s really going on within your home when it comes to energy use (or misuse). The audit will find out what parts of your home use the most energy.
You’ll need to hire a professional certified company that offers such services. Sometimes your utility company will do one for free.
Once the assessment is completed, you can decide what your next step will be in terms of improving or fixing issues within your home. You’ll now have more thorough information to make the right, cost-effective improvements to your home energy-wise.
Don’t forget about possible discounts from your utility company! You may be eligible for a discounted home energy audit (and any subsequent work) through your state or local utility company through a rebate or discount program.
What to Expect
During a professional energy audit, a technician will come to your home and spend a few hours going from room-to-room, from top to bottom, both inside and out to detect sources of energy loss.
And we’re talking about inspecting everything energy related — electrical, gas, lighting, heating and cooling!
They’ll use special tools and technology that will help them identify areas of your home where there are any energy leaks or waste. You’ll get a cool thermal image of the outside of your home showing where all the air is leaking out!
The technician also will ask you about your family’s energy use, such as if anyone works from home, how many people live there, how each room is used, and what temperature you set your thermostat in the winter and summer.
Get Ready
Before your audit, gather at least one to two years’ worth of utility (gas and electric) bills. The technician needs to analyze these to get a sense of your baseline energy use.
You also should prepare a list of any problems you’ve detected on your own, such as drafty rooms, poor heat or cooling distribution between rooms, not enough hot water in the shower, or condensation on a room’s wall.
You know these, right?? But write them down so you don’t forget to tell the technician!
Inspection Musts
Here’s a general breakdown of what will be done during an energy audit of your entire home.
Check for major air leakages – Look for drafts from chimneys, bypasses, recessed lighting, outlets, HVAC ducts. Conduct a blower door test to help determine your overall home’s airtightness. Use a thermographic scan to detect thermal defects and air leakage from windows, walls, doors, and entire home.
Check heating and cooling — Inspect insulation; test for fuel leaks in furnace and its blower; examine duct system, filters and even dryer venting. Check thermostat setting and insulation on water heater tank. Inspect your fireplace and chimney. See what type of thermostat you use and its usual setting.
Assess your electrical systems – Check your appliance energy use; examine light fixtures and wiring; use a watt meter to measure energy use of other devices in your home; look for electrical hazards.
Check for moisture and water vapor in your bathrooms and kitchen – Note any water leakage; inspect your vent fans; look for condensation on walls.
Examine gas appliances and gas heating/cooling systems – Measure temperature, leaks and any carbon dioxide in its exhaust.
What’s Next?
After the technician’s visit, you’ll get a comprehensive energy report that will show:
- how you use energy,
- where it’s being wasted, and
- what you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
The report may suggest some small energy fixes such as new CFL or LED light bulbs; caulking or weather stripping windows; improving your lighting needs with sensors, dimmers or timers; or upgrading to a more energy-saving dishwasher.
It also could suggest more expensive fixes such as buying an energy-efficient water heater or replacing your old windows with new energy-saving ones. It’s up to you how much you want to take on or fix at this point.
Save Energy = Save Money
If you’re concerned about your budget and hiring professionals, remember that the upfront costs could be worth it in the end in two ways:
Rebate programs from local utility companies. Many utility companies will provide rebates for both the audit and for any work you get done after the audit. In order to get the rebate, the energy audit company will send out a technician after any weatherization or upgrades are done to do a “test out” to see if the work was effective. The utility company then will send you a rebate check once this is done.
Saving money on your home’s energy bills. You can save 5% to 30% on your energy bill once you make any of the audit’s suggested changes to your home. Even the little things will make a dent in your lighting, cooling or heating costs.
Let me know if you have any questions about a home energy audit or would like an a recommendation!
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